FAU SORORITIES, FRATERNITIES FLOURISH

The Greek system at Florida Atlantic University is the fastest growing in Florida, university statistics show. And this fall's rush -- five days of recruiting new members -- brought more than 120 people into the eight fraternities and sororities at the Boca Raton-based school.

Further, Greek adviser J. Allen Ward said that about 10 other fraternities and sororities have been courting FAU to expand in South Florida.

College freshmen nationwide are learning the alpha-beta-gammas about the social life that can complement their higher education.

Some are looking for the wild college parties. Others simply want to meet friends and be active leaders on campus.

"The attractive thing about Greek life is brotherhood and the support of a peer group," Ward said. "Rush helps new students meet people, and it helps the Greeks develop social skills -- talking to new people who might have totally different interests, and being their host."

Rush week at FAU was conducted during the second week of classes so that the freshmen and transfer students had some time to adjust to their new environment. Most colleges schedule rush during the first week of classes or the week before classes begin.

The week was chock-full of parties: Monday Night Football, progressive music, barbecues, beach blasts and bikini contests. Fraternity rushees paid a one- time $5 rush fee, which gave them access to more than 20 parties. Sorority rushees paid $10, and had as much fun.

"This is the first year we've had a rush registration," said Interfraternity Council President Pete Striano, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi. "It helps pay for the parties and the rush brochures, and discourages people from coming just to eat the free food."

Striano, also AEPi's rush chairman and a resident of Coral Springs, said that rushees are "looking for people they can have ties with on campus, to make FAU more than just going to classes and going home like high school."

Fifty men and almost as many women registered before rush week started, said Alex Sanchez, vice president of Alpha Tau Omega and rush chairman for the Interfraternity Council.

The question rushees ask most frequently: "What will I have to do to get in? Eat goldfish? Start a food fight in the cafeteria? Do push-ups? Drink? Get paddled?"

"They all ask the same thing," Striano said, referring to hazing -- abusive or humiliating tasks or acts.

Chris Losquadro, president of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, put it this way: "Why would you want to hurt a guy who is going to be your brother and maybe your best friend?"

Sorority rush is different from fraternity rush.

"All the girls have to see all the sororities," said Theta Phi Alpha rush chairwoman Debi Gheorge. "They're not really parties. The first two nights are open and the rushees go to the three sororities for 30 minutes each. They eat, mingle and see skits. Real quiet and social.

"The third night is invitation events, and the last night is preference night, when they pick their sorority and sign their bids."

Sorority pledging can last between eight and 12 weeks. Fraternities' pledge education programs range from five to 10 weeks. During pledging, new members learn about fraternity traditions, local and national history, rituals, songs and ways of conducting chapter business.

"I was going to pledge last semester, but I was running a business and commuting every day from Davie for three years," said rushee Bill McGloin, a senior majoring in accounting. "(Losquadro) was cool and said, 'I'll see you next semester, then.' I could still hang out with them. They really let you be yourself. They have diversity, they don't discriminate, and they have a real good time."